Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosoma

[shis″-, skis″to-so´mah]

a genus of trematodes, including several species parasitic in the blood of humans and domestic animals. The organisms are called schistosomes or blood flukes. Larvae (cercariae) enter the body of the host by way of the digestive tract, or through the skin from contact with contaminated water, and migrate in the blood to small blood vessels of organs of the intestinal or urinary tract; they attach themselves to the blood vessel walls and mature and reproduce. The intermediate hosts are snails of various species.

The life cycle of Schistosoma. From Mahon and Manuselis, 2000.

Schistosoma haemato´bium a species endemic in North, Central, and West Africa and the Middle East; the organisms are found in the venules of the urinary bladder wall, and eggs may be isolated from the urine.

Schistosoma japo´nicum a species geographically confined to China, Japan, and nearby countries; found chiefly in the venules of the intestine.

Schistosoma manso´ni a species widely distributed in Africa and parts of South America; the organisms are found in the host's mesenteric veins, and eggs may be found in the feces.

Schis·to·so·ma man·so·ni

a common species of trematode characterized by large eggs with a strong lateral spine and transmitted by planorbid snails of the genus Biomphalaria; causes schistosomiasis mansoni in humans in Africa, parts of the Middle East, South America, and certain Caribbean islands.

Schis·to·so·ma man·so·ni

(skis'tō-sō'mă man-sō'nī)

A common species of trematodes characterized by large eggs with a strong lateral spine and transmitted by planorbid snails of the genus Biomphalaria; causes schistosomiasis mansoni.

Professor Hoffmann and colleagues show for the first time that genomic DNA of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni is methylated and go on to identify the protein (a DNA methyltransferase) that is likely to mediate this process.

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